Page 67 of Your Play to Call
“What’s with the scowl?” Zack asks and looks over to Willow.
“Nothing. It’s nothing. Do you know who that is?” I ask, my words running into each other.
Zack squints. “No clue.”
“Wonder how he got an invite.” I scoff, looking for the bartender. I want my drinks. The uneasiness feels like it could choke me.
“What are you even talking about?” Zack laughs. He thinks I’m joking. I don’t think I am. Fitting this guy would find his way over as soon as I left.
Willow laughs and puts her hand on his arm. My stomach twists.
The bartender sets the drinks down in front of me. I put a twenty in the tip jar and swipe the glasses. I spill some bourbon on my sleeve.
“Woah, woah. Tripp. Whatever you’re going to do—don’t,” Zack tries to convince me, practically jogging to keep up with me.
I set my bourbon down harder than intended. Or maybe not. Both of their eyes snap to me.
“Here you are, Lo.” I hand her the glass of Champagne. Zack awkwardly stands next to me.
“Tripp Owens! You were the man in the Super Bowl last year,” the guy says. Willow sips on her drink.
“That’s me,” I say while taking a sip of the bourbon, welcoming the burn.
“Just a massive Willow fan. Wanted to come and introduce myself. Didn’t want to miss my chance.” He winks at me. Or at her. Or who the fuck knows. I know I’m being a jealous prick, but I can’t help it.
“Bet you didn’t.” I take another drink, looking at him through the glass. Zack puts his hand on my shoulder and squeezes.
“Actually, Oliver is from home, a small town in Virginia, about fifteen minutes from mine. Isn’t that wild?” Willow says, trying to bring me back. She gently puts her hand on my arm before gesturing to Oliver.
“What a coincidence,” I say less than entertained and not breaking eye contact with this guy.
“It’s a small world, and all of that…” Zack tries to jump in, smooth the bumps, but what’s done is done.
“Hey, I don’t know what I did. Didn’t mean to offend you. Or…” Oliver stumbles over his words. He looks at Willow. “It was great to meet you. Honestly. Can’t wait for your next album.” He reaches out a hand to shake and she takes it.
Oliver leaves without a second look back to us at the high-top.
Willow turns to me, razor sharp. Like knives could come out of her eyes.
“Are you kidding me?” she asks with a voice rigid as steel.
Chapter 36
Willow
What. The. Fuck.
Tripp basically sprints over here and is a sarcastic asshole to this guy who was doing nothing wrong. I put my hands on my hips and stare at Tripp, willing him to speak. Instead, it’s Zack who talks first.
“That’s my cue.” He claps his hands and rubs them together. “If I don’t see you again, tonight was fun,” Zack says, in a way that he’s trying to convince himself, pulling me into a hug. I keep my gaze on Tripp. “I’ll see you at practice,” Zack says to Tripp and waves at me before putting his hands in his pocket and going back to the dance floor.
“Why are you acting like that?” I ask, rephrasing the question.
“Like what?” he responds, like he has no idea what I’m talking about. Is there anything more infuriating?
“Like this.” I point to him, up and down. “How you’re being right now.”
“The second I leave, he runs up to the table? Sure. He’s abig fan.” Sarcasm drips from his voice. “He had you over here cracking up. What was so funny?”